HST6896: Nehru and India
15 credits (semester 1)
Module Leader: Dr Benjamin Zachariah
| Module Summary |
This module examines the contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru and of the so-called 'Nehruvian' tradition to the development of modern India. It looks at the genesis and sustenance of the moderate forms of socialism, planned economic development and secular democracy that are associated with Nehru, and asks to what extent these can be associated with an individual. Or to reverse the question: what were the social forces that made it possible for Nehru to rise to and sustain his leadership? The module will also centrally consider India´s role in the Cold War and its association with non-alignment or 'neutralism'.
| Teaching |
The module will be taught in five, two-hour classes. Each will focus on a particular theme (for example the impact of sectarian violence and partition on a sense of national identity) and be located around its discussion in the historical literature, considered in broad context. Classes will enable students to share knowledge, debate controversial issues and listen and respond to the views of others in a structured environment. Students will, in addition, have an individual tutorial with their own supervisor in which to discuss the work they will write for assessment for this module.
| Assessment |
Students will prepare a short paper (not more than 3000 words) which demonstrates an ability to handle bibliographical resources and which explores one of the key themes raised by an in-depth study of a particular topic in South Asian history.
| Intended Learning Outcomes |
By the end of the unit, a candidate will be able to demonstrate:
- A more profound understanding of a period of South Asian history, coming to independent conclusions on salient issues of interpretation and source criticism.
- The ability to distinguish between and critically evaluate different schools of interpretation and historical debate on South Asian history, attaining an awareness of current research issues beyond the published literature.
- The ability to elaborate and defend an intellectual position to other members of the seminar group as well as presenting scholarly arguments and historiographical debates to them.
- An awareness of the contribution made by other academic disciplines to our understanding of South Asian history.
- Their ability to engage in group discussions of interpretative issues.